Obituaries

OBIT: Robert Whitney, 88, Veteran, Printer, Devoted Rotary Member

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Robert Whitney, 88, of Watertown, died peacefully in the early morning hours of Monday, April 27 at the VA Hospital in Bedford Mass, resting among family, friends and fellow veterans. He is survived by Sylvia King Whitney, his beloved and loving wife of 64 years, their daughter Jacqueline (Paul ) and granddaughters Christie and Hayley, as well as his brother J. Malcolm Whitney (Edith), and numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews, many of whom remain in the greater Boston area. Robert and family are well known in Watertown circles, as the Whitney family first arrived in Watertown in 1634. He and Sylvia met at Watertown High and have been together ever since, punctuated by Robert’s enlistment in the US Army Air Corps towards the end of World War II. While Malcolm had already been deployed to the South Pacific,  Robert’s unit  “defended Texas from the Japanese,” as he liked to say.

Obituaries

OBIT: Joseph McHugh, 86, Watertown Resident, Korean War Vet

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A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday May 2, 2015 at 9 AM in the Church of Saint Patrick, Watertown for Joseph Patrick McHugh. Mr. McHugh, a son of the late Patrick and Nora (Holland) McHugh was a life-long resident of Watertown. Joseph passed away in the Tufts Medical Center, Boston on Thursday April 30, 2015 after a brief illness. He was 86. He enjoyed sixty-one years of marriage with his soul mate and best friend Margaret “Peg” (Sweeny) McHugh of Cambridge.

Real Estate

Seven Single-Family Homes for Sale in Watertown This Week

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There are 16 open houses around Watertown this weekend, check them out. $419,000 – 7 Ellen Terrace, 3 bedroom, 1.5 bathroom ranch, Open Houses: Saturday 11:30 a.m.- 1 p.m. Sunday 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

$419,000 – 53 Bromfield St., 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom ranch, Open Houses: Saturday 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Sunday 2-4 p.m.

$835,000 – 334-336 School St., 2 unit, 14 total room, 8 total bedroom, Open Houses: Saturday 12-2 p.m. Sunday 1:30-3:30 p.m.

$495,000 – 3 Repton Cir. Unit 3210, 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom mid-rise condo, Open Houses: Saturday 11 a.m.-1 p.m Sunday 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

$319,900 – 253 Sycamore St. Unit 253, 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom 2 family, Open Houses: Saturday 12-2 p.m. Sunday 2-3:30 p.m.

$750,000 – 35 Bennett Road, 4 bedroom, 3.5 bathroom colonial, Open Houses: Saturday 12-1:30 p.m. Sunday 12-1:30 p.m.

Sponsored by:

$379,000 – 170 Main St Unit 203, 2 bed, 2f 0h bath mid-rise condo, Open Houses:
Saturday 12-1 p.m. Sunday 12-1 p.m.

$415,000 – 38 Chauncey St. Unit A, 3 bedroom, 1 bathroom 2 family, Open House: Sunday 12-1:30 p.m.

$719,900 – 5 Winter St.

Government

Town Budget Adds Teachers, Helps Police, Fire and Social Services

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Watertown’s Fiscal 2016 budget will provide a boost for the town’s schools, bolster the Police and Fire departments and look to improve public transportation. 

Town Manager Michael Driscoll presented the $119,115,250 Fiscal 2016 budget to the Town Council Tuesday night. The figure is 4.5 percent more than Fiscal 2015 – the current budget year – an increase of $5.1 million. “I believe the submitted Fiscal Year 2016 Budget focuses on achieving the long-term goal of sound financial management and fiscal stability,” Driscoll said. Watertown’s schools will add 21.2 new positions as part of the $41.9 million budget. Education funding got a 6.87 percent, $2.7 million boost in Fiscal 2016.

Business

Watertown Savings Bank Names New Vice President

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Watertown Savings Bank (WSB) Chief Executive Officer Ronald Dean is pleased to announce that Sandy M. Penchansky has been promoted to Vice President at Watertown Savings Bank, according to an announcement from the bank. Since 2007, Penchansky has been the Financial Advisor for Infinex Investments, Inc., located at WSB. The Bank introduced investment services to its customers through Infinex Financial Group in 2005. Infinex Financial Group, a broker-dealer based out of Connecticut and Virginia, is the largest bank-owned provider of investment and insurance products and services for community banks in New England. Infinex was created nearly 20 years ago by community banks; works primarily with community banks; and specializes in retirement, education and wealth transfer strategies for bank customers. Working with individuals and small businesses, Penchansky helps modify or design various portfolios, set up retirement plans, or identify insurance needs. Investment and insurance products and services are offered through INFINEX INVESTMENTS, INC. Member FINRA/SIPC. Infinex and the bank are not affiliated, according to the announcement.

Schools

Watertown High School Senior Earns College Scholarship

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Watertown High School senior Eric Furtado got a financial boost for college from a local bank. To support members investing in their education, and in honor of former staff and volunteers, MIT Federal Credit Union awarded $1,000 Memorial Scholarships to accomplished students at their recent 75th Anniversary Celebration, held in conjunction with the Annual Business Meeting on April 21, 2015, according to the announcement from the bank. Recipients were selected based on essay content, grades, financial need and extracurricular & community activities. “We take pride in supporting a variety of communities at MIT, including young people investing in their education,” said MITFCU President/CEO Brian Ducharme. “In its ninth year it continues to be an honor to learn of these students’ accomplishments and present them with their awards at our Annual Meeting.”

One of the Memorial Scholarship recipients is Eric Furtado from Watertown.

Police/Fire

Man Caught with Stolen Car After a String of Car Break Ins

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A Cambridge man faces a wide range of charges after being caught in a car he allegedly stole from Watertown and was caught sleeping inside by police in Somerville. On April 20, a Brimmer Street resident reported that a 2009 Honda Pilot had been stolen, said Watertown Police Lt. Michael Lawn. The owner believes the keys were left in the vehicle. The vehicle had a Lo-Jack system, and the vehicle was tracked to Somerville, Lawn said. “When Somerville Police approached the vehicle they saw an individual sleeping in the backseat of the motor vehicle,” Lawn said.

Sports

20 Athletes Ran Marathon in Memory of the Armenian Genocide

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More than 20 runners in the 119th Boston Marathon, including one from Watertown, proudly honored the history and legacy of the Armenian Genocide, which marked its centennial just four days after the internationally famous race on Friday, April 24, 2015. Each of the runners wore a specially designed emblem on race day to call attention to the genocide’s 100th anniversary and to salute how Armenians have not only survived but thrived in the generations that have followed, according to the announcement from the Armenian Genocide Commemoration group. This program was coordinated by the The Knights of Vartan, Ararat Lodge of Cambridge. While planning the events for the commemoration of the genocide’s centennial on April 24, it occurred to its members that the Boston Marathon was a perfect opportunity to raise awareness. Member Ron Sahatjian of Lexington started looking for runners of Armenian descent who were taking on the marathon this spring.